Novel energy-efficient electrowinning anodes. Developed nations rely extensively on metallic materials to sustain modern society. This places a significant importance on delivery of base metals, and that delivery must be as efficient and clean as possible. The first step in the delivery chain is extraction from the ore, and much of this technology is based on electrowinning (EW), where the behaviour of the anode is critical to overall process efficiency. This project will deliver advances in EW ....Novel energy-efficient electrowinning anodes. Developed nations rely extensively on metallic materials to sustain modern society. This places a significant importance on delivery of base metals, and that delivery must be as efficient and clean as possible. The first step in the delivery chain is extraction from the ore, and much of this technology is based on electrowinning (EW), where the behaviour of the anode is critical to overall process efficiency. This project will deliver advances in EW anodes which will lead to energy savings, which in turn, will result in a cleaner overall production cycle, major emission reductions and cost savings. The expected outcomes of this project are targeted at the development of new and advanced anode materials.Read moreRead less
Low cost solution-processable 2D nanomaterials for smart windows. This project aims to develop low cost and scalable synthesis of the active functional nanomaterials in smart windows, their facile application techniques, and their integration into the glass manufacturing process. Smart windows, with thermochromic and electrochromic functionalities, will play important roles towards efficient energy usage and conservation (in terms of air-conditioning and lighting) in most buildings including off ....Low cost solution-processable 2D nanomaterials for smart windows. This project aims to develop low cost and scalable synthesis of the active functional nanomaterials in smart windows, their facile application techniques, and their integration into the glass manufacturing process. Smart windows, with thermochromic and electrochromic functionalities, will play important roles towards efficient energy usage and conservation (in terms of air-conditioning and lighting) in most buildings including offices, schools, and residential homes. . The intended outcome of this project is to facilitate the commercialisation of low-cost, energy-saving smart windows for efficient energy usage and conservation, which is an integral part of a sustainable environment.Read moreRead less
A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. This collaborative project between three universities, four museums and an art gallery aims to discover how to predict and increase the lifespan of malignant plastics or polymers by studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. 5 to 80% of museum collections, composed of growing numbers of plastic or polymer-based materials, need ....A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. This collaborative project between three universities, four museums and an art gallery aims to discover how to predict and increase the lifespan of malignant plastics or polymers by studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. 5 to 80% of museum collections, composed of growing numbers of plastic or polymer-based materials, need better preservation. Conservators do not have much expertise in preserving plastics, which are contemporary and have a relatively short life expectancy. This project intends to provide museums with a model for prioritising and effectively allocating resources to preserve a vulnerable group of collections for future generations.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured magnetic materials for clean automotive technologies. Greater utilisation of the petrol-electric hybrid technology is an effective and realistic approach to the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Owing to the requirement of the temperature stability of the magnets used in the electric motors in the current hybrid vehicles, the magnets contain considerable amounts of costly rare-earth elements. This impedes the utilisation of the technology ....Nanostructured magnetic materials for clean automotive technologies. Greater utilisation of the petrol-electric hybrid technology is an effective and realistic approach to the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Owing to the requirement of the temperature stability of the magnets used in the electric motors in the current hybrid vehicles, the magnets contain considerable amounts of costly rare-earth elements. This impedes the utilisation of the technology and hence alternative cost effective magnets with high temperature stability are needed. In this project we will exploit a range of alloy design strategies in manganese-bismuth/iron nanocomposite magnets, thereby realising a novel permanent magnet, free of costly rare-earth elements.Read moreRead less
Core loss mechanisms in soft magnetic nanostructures. This project aims to clarify the mechanism of power losses in magnetic cores used in the petrol-electric hybrid cars by investigating the relationship between the core losses and magnetic correlation lengths in iron alloys. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect of magneto-mechanical interaction on the anomalous core loss in iron based alloys. The intended outcomes include an experimental confirmation of the random aniso ....Core loss mechanisms in soft magnetic nanostructures. This project aims to clarify the mechanism of power losses in magnetic cores used in the petrol-electric hybrid cars by investigating the relationship between the core losses and magnetic correlation lengths in iron alloys. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the effect of magneto-mechanical interaction on the anomalous core loss in iron based alloys. The intended outcomes include an experimental confirmation of the random anisotropy model, a major theoretical model in nanostructured materials and identification of ideal magnetic domain configurations for lower power losses. These intended outcomes should bring great benefits to the development of low-carbon vehicle technologies for sustainable motorisation in Australia.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of ....Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of magnetic softness. The project aims to systematically investigate the effect of metalloid and micro-alloying elements on the nano-crystallisation behaviour of the precursor amorphous alloys in order to identify the alloy composition and processing conditions for preparing magnetically soft nanostructures.Read moreRead less
High performance cast magnesium alloys. Reducing the weight of cars, particularly their engines, enables substantial reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A new generation of magnesium alloys will be developed by this project for the manufacture of considerably lighter components with improved mechanical performance for powertrain and structural applications.
Soft magnetic nanostructures for clean automotive technologies: origin of induced magnetic anisotropies. This project will clarify the mechanism of annealing-induced magnetic anisotropies in magnetic nanostructures and thereby establish a basis for further alloy development of efficient core materials for electric motors. The project outcomes will potentially lead to a significant reduction of the heat loss in petrol-electric hybrid cars.
The Behaviour of Western Artists' Materials in Tropical Environments. This project is a study of the behaviour of western artists materials in tropical climates through the visual examination and scientific analysis of both simulated and aged paintings from four museums in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This will form new methodologies and guidelines for the preventive care, transportation, storage and conservation treatment of western artists materials in hot, humid climates. ....The Behaviour of Western Artists' Materials in Tropical Environments. This project is a study of the behaviour of western artists materials in tropical climates through the visual examination and scientific analysis of both simulated and aged paintings from four museums in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This will form new methodologies and guidelines for the preventive care, transportation, storage and conservation treatment of western artists materials in hot, humid climates. The success of this project will have profound implications on the analytical techniques available for conservation research.Read moreRead less
Comedy - no laughing matter: identifying and preserving the history of comedy in Melbourne from the 1960s through the 1980s. This project will document the historical development of the comedy industry in Melbourne through preserving the material culture and recording the oral histories of its participants. In doing so, it will bridge a substantial gap in the knowledge of Australia's cultural history, and preserve important material for future research.